The sizes of elephant groups in zoos: implications for elephant welfare
Open accessAbstract
This study examined the distribution of 495 Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) and 336 African elephants (Loxodonta africana) in 194 zoos, most of which were located in Europe (49.1%) and North America (32.6%). Cows outnumbered bulls 4 to 1 (Loxodonta) and 3 to 1 (Elephas). Groups contained 7 or fewer: mean, 4.28 (sigma = 5.73). One fifth of elephants lived alone or with one conspecific. Forty-six elephants (5.5%) had no conspecific. Many zoos ignore minimum group sizes of regional zoo association guidelines. The American Zoo and Aquarium Association recommends that breeding facilities keep herds of 6 to 12 elephants. The British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums recommends keeping together at least 4 cows over 2 years old. Over 69% Asian and 80% African cow groups-including those under 2 years-consisted of fewer than 4 individuals. Recently, Europe and North America have made progress with some zoos no longer keeping elephants and with others investing in improved facilities and forming larger herds. The welfare of individual elephants should outweigh all other considerations; zoos should urgently seek to integrate small groups into larger herds.
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It is rare for a captive elephant group to comprise more than 10 individuals.
“It is rare for a captive elephant group to comprise more than 10 individuals (Rees, 2009).”
From Characteristics of social relationships in a group of captive Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) in the elephant village in Thailand (2022) · cites this paper as Rees, 2009
Historically, captive elephants have often been limited to small groups of mostly unrelated adult females with very few infants or juveniles.
“Historically, captive elephants have often been limited to small groups of mostly unrelated adult females with very few infants or juveniles”
From Continuing challenges of elephant captivity: the captive environment, health issues, and welfare implications (2024) · cites this paper as Rees, 2009
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- Authors
- Rees, P. A.
- Affiliations
- University of Salford (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Rees, Paul A.
- Venue
- Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2008-12-23
- Volume
- 12
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 44-60
- ISSN
- 1088-8705 (ISSN-L)
- 1532-7604
- OpenAlex
- W2014140150
- Cited by
- 38
- References
- 29
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 1 · 2015: 2 · 2014: 2 · 2013: 2 · 2012: 2
- FWCI
- 1.03
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- usir.salford.ac.uk
- Licence
- cc-by
- Locations
- Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- University of Salford Institutional Repository (University of Salford) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- Funders
- National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR202203)
- Department of Health and Social Care
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Veterinary › Small Animals › Animal Behavior and Welfare Studies
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Ecology › Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Primate Behavior and Ecology
- Keywords
- Asian elephant, Loxodonta africana, group size, elephant welfare, zoo animal husbandry
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Animal Welfare, Animals, Zoo, Elephants, Female, Male, Population Density, Population Dynamics, Social Environment, Sex Distribution
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